EMMERSON BOYCE believes Arouna Kone has found his form at a crucial period as Wigan’s spring-time surge for Premier League safety continued with this narrow win.

Year after year, the Latics seem to lift themselves around the time when the clocks go forward and temperatures pick up around the UK.

Despite the cold lingering a bit longer than usual this year, Roberto Martinez’s men showed plenty of grit on Saturday to get through a tight encounter and ensure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season thanks to Kone’s late strike.

It was the Ivory Coast striker’s 10th league goal of the season and he has proven to be a shrewd £2.7million purchase by Martinez.

And Boyce believes Kone will be key to Wigan beating the drop after his fourth strike in five games.

He said: “Arouna’s goals are making a huge difference. Getting into double figures in this league is no mean feat.

“He has come into great form just when we needed him to. He is our strike weapon and he’s on fire at the moment.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez

Arouna’s goals are making a huge difference. Getting into double figures in this league is no mean feat

Emmerson Boyce

After winning seven of their final nine games last season and with three from four in their current run, it is a wonder why Wigan cannot get these results in the earlier part of the campaign – and Martinez feels a change is needed.

He said: “We are not expected to win a game in August, September or October. We want to win but we don’t have to win and that’s probably because we are enjoying our journey in the Premier League.

“Once we get in the last third of the season we know that every point counts and is going to have an influence on our future.

“When you are at a big club you are expected to win every game – and we need to create that.”

Kone’s goal, set up by a good pass from Jordi Gomez, was fired past Norwich goalkeeper Lee Camp, who, on his full debut in the Premier League for the Canaries, should have done better.

The defeat leaves Norwich just four points above the drop zone having played a game more than fourth-from-bottom Wigan and joint-bottom QPR, and Chris Hughton’s men will now be looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.